IHG Hotels & Resorts and Centinel Public Partnerships have been selected by the U.S. Department of the Air Force to develop, own and manage on-base lodging across Air Force installations under a new 50-year agreement.
The long-term partnership marks one of the largest military hospitality projects in the United States and is expected to modernize accommodations for service members, families and official travellers across multiple bases.
The Department of the Air Force said the transition to the new lodging programme is expected to be completed by fall 2027.
Major Upgrade For Military Lodging
Under the agreement, Centinel will oversee ownership, development, construction and asset management for the lodging portfolio, while IHG will manage hotel operations and guest services.
The first phase of the programme will begin across 23 Air Force installations throughout the United States and its territories.
Officials said the phased rollout is designed to maintain uninterrupted lodging operations while gradually upgrading facilities and hospitality services.
Focus On Comfort And Mission Readiness
The new partnership aims to improve accommodation standards for military personnel and travelling government employees while supporting broader mission-readiness objectives.
Modernised lodging is increasingly viewed as an important part of military infrastructure, particularly for personnel travelling frequently between bases for training, operations and assignments.
The Department of the Air Force said the programme is intended to deliver hospitality standards comparable to the commercial hotel sector while remaining tailored to the needs of military communities.
IHG Expands Its Military Hospitality Presence
IHG already operates one of the largest military hotel portfolios in the United States through the Privatization of Army Lodging programme launched in 2009.
Together with Centinel, the company currently manages more than 70 hotels and over 12,000 rooms across 40 military installations.
The latest Air Force agreement significantly expands that presence and strengthens IHG’s position within the specialised government and defence travel sector.
IHG chief executive Elie Maalouf said the company’s experience working with military travellers through its Army lodging portfolio has helped shape its understanding of the needs of service members and their families.
Long-Term Investment In Military Infrastructure
Centinel brings more than two decades of experience developing and managing military housing and hospitality projects across Army, Air Force and Space Force installations.
Company chief executive Justin Kern described the agreement as an opportunity to modernise on-base lodging while improving quality of life for military communities.
The project also reflects a broader trend toward public-private partnerships in military infrastructure, where government agencies increasingly work alongside commercial operators to upgrade housing, hospitality and support facilities.
Military Travel Sector Continues To Grow
The agreement highlights the scale and importance of the military travel and government lodging sector within the wider hospitality industry.
With thousands of service members, contractors and official travellers moving between installations each year, military lodging remains a significant and highly specialised part of the U.S. travel market.
As the Air Force modernises its accommodation network over the coming decades, the partnership with IHG and Centinel is expected to reshape the hospitality experience across bases nationwide.
